250m rule catches 'White House' brothel

By BERNARD ORSMAN and NATASHA HARRIS

The White House has been caught out by a draft bylaw that says brothels will be banned within 250m of a primary, intermediate or secondary school.

Auckland City Council officials say the White House, on upper Queen St, is just under 250m across Myers Park from Kadimah College on Greys Ave.

Under bylaws unanimously passed last night by the council, brothels will not be allowed within residential zones but will be able to operate legally in many suburban shopping centres across Auckland City and the Hauraki Gulf.

A key restriction is that brothels will not be allowed to operate at ground level with Amsterdam-style "shop window" displays.

Brian Le Gros, owner of The White House, told the Herald from Noumea that he was upset and disappointed by the council not making an exemption for his brothel. He said he would turn the White House into a "rave bar" if challenged.

"If the council figures they want to wipe out something that's really good for the tourism of Auckland, then let them go ahead.

"I would have liked to have seen the council make an exemption in regards to the White House's good record - I'm not an embarrassment to the top end of Queen St at all."

At the meeting, Mayor John Banks criticised the Government's legislation but said it was important that his council protect sex workers from gangs and drugs that could take over the newly legal profession.

"The act makes it very difficult for health inspectors to check the brothels because the brothel list is private ... The major beneficiaries in this are hidden in a veil of secrecy.

"We didn't invite this legislation to fall on us, it was forced on us and for us to administer it will be extraordinarily difficult."

While the councillors voted unanimously for the bylaw to be passed, two amendments by councillors Penny Sefuiva and Richard Northey were rejected.

Mrs Sefuiva proposed that brothels existing near community centres and schools and that were not affecting them be exempt from the 250m rule.

Mr Northey asked for striptease bars not to be given the same classification as brothels and for a clarification of wheelchair access for underground brothels.

In some parts of the city brothels will be a "discretionary activity", meaning owners must apply for council permission and members of the public can object.

Public consultation will begin soon.